The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
